Rising temperatures prompt Seoul to launch power-saving campaign

Ventilation fans for air-conditioners cover an exterior of a building in Seoul, May 15. Korea Times file

Promotion, education, subsidies offered to mitigate seasonal high demand for electricity

By Ko Dong-hwan

With temperatures already reaching levels seen in the sweltering summer months, the central and local governments as well as residents are increasingly concerned about rising electricity consumption as air conditioner use is increasing. Particularly this summer, El Nino has begun cranking up water temperatures surrounding the Korean Peninsula, contributing to the early arrival of the summer season.

The government also raised electricity rates by 5.3 percent, May 16, adding a significant financial burden to the public.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government is asking residents to take part in a power-saving campaign as well as offering subsidies for power consumption.

Power meters outside a commercial building in Seoul, Feb. 28 / Newsis

Since 2020, the city's overall power usage has been increasing by 3 percent annually, indicating that electricity consumption is likely to increase this summer.

One of the city government's goals is for each household to save 1 kilowatt per hour every day, according to the Green Energy Division under the city authority's Climate and Environment Headquarters.

It can be achieved by keeping room temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius, as well as shutting off lights and unplugging electronic appliances when not in use. Such efforts can save as much as 10 percent of energy each month and 100,000 won ($76) from the energy bill per year.

To raise awareness of such habits ― particularly among merchants and other commercial venues where power demand is comparatively higher due to a high volume of visits by patrons ― the city government is forming a special group of promoters.

During the June-to-August period, some 150 city workers will visit the most crowded areas of Seoul, including Myeongdong, Hongdae and Gangnam, and promote the energy-saving campaign. The city workers intend to remind merchants to keep their air-conditioned store doors closed and to shut refrigerator doors inside supermarkets.

The city campaign also includes encouraging people to remove their neckties and wear shorts and spreading the message via social networking platforms.

The city officials are also reaching out to some 1 million students in Seoul to promote the campaign. In cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the city government is hosting educational sessions at public venues and spaces run by district offices in Seoul.

A sign attached to a refrigerator at a supermarket urges patrons to shut the door to prevent cold air from escaping and save energy, in this Feb. 13 photo. Yonhap

The city government's campaign reaches out to state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. and Korea Energy Agency. The collaboration is geared towards launching monthly advertisements across the city using billboards, subways, buses and screens at apartment elevators. Power-saving tips will also be shared consistently through radio, TV broadcasters and media outlets.

In addition to the city's ad campaign, Seoul's 25 district offices are also launching a special ad campaign during summer to contribute to the energy-saving mission. The efforts include monitoring public buildings that particularly consume a high volume of power and making them save more electricity.

Another campaign involves some 1,000 cafes and restaurants in Seoul.

"Oasis Seoul" has signed deals with local businesses so that they provide water when asked by non-paying patrons. Passersby can identify the businesses through stickers which indicate they provide water for free. The city government said it plans to extend the city-wide oasis project to district offices and other government buildings.

For 450 buildings registered in the city that use a relatively larger amount of power― running on 2,000 ton-equivalent or higher amount of electricity per year ― as well as eco-friendly companies, the city government is hosting an inaugural power-saving model-building competition.

This building in Seoul's northern district of Nowon is one of the city's zero-energy buildings. Built in 2017, 121 familes live here. Korea Times file

The competition mirrors "The Battle of the Buildings" contest hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that promotes the same function. The Korean version of the challenge compares the amount of power spent by participating buildings during a certain period this year and the same period from the previous year, while those displaying the biggest power cut is the winner. Winners will get a plaque courtesy of Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

For low-income families, the city government is passing out electric fans and summer blankets for free, as well as offering subsidies to help them pay their power bills.

The subsidies are also available through the city government's Building Retrofit Project, a funding scheme reserved for citizens who want to improve the energy efficiency of buildings. The demand is on a steep rise, according to the city government. As of April 2022, the total number of applications for the funding stood at 34 buildings and 400 million won was spent on such purposes. In a year, the figures rose to 312 and 7.1 billion won. The city government said the funding budget for this year was 12 billion won, but expected it to run out and plans to prepare another 10 billion won for this year.

"The recent energy fee hike is expected to impact citizens, private companies and small business owners," Lee In-keun, head of Climate and Environment Headquarters, said. "But with small efforts like maintaining room temperatures, unplugging electrical appliances and turning off lights, the electricity bills can go down by 10 percent. I urge our city residents to join the movement."